The Building is Expected Open Around Memorial Day   From San Juan Island National Historic Park The American Camp Visitor Center site opens 9 a.m., Friday, April 16. The parking lot will remain open and a new bottle filling station will be available. Restrooms are currently available as port-a-pots as permanent facilities are being finished  Continue Reading

By Mark Ingman, San Juan County Solid Waste Program Coordinator Have you ever noticed a mossy, weedy tire while walking along roads or beaches? There is a chemical compound in tires that washes off in the rain and is linked to killing salmon — bringing in a cast-off tire along with your litter to the  Continue Reading

From San Juan Preservation Trust Staying connected to our community is important, which is why the San Juan Preservation Trust staff created a video series called “Just a Minute from the Islands” in 2020. These videos highlight aspects of nature including local plants, birds, reptiles, marine life, and more. In the fall of 2020, we started a  Continue Reading

From San Juan Preservation Trust Only a short boat ride from busy Roche Harbor, Henry Island Preserve feels like a world away, straddling the boundary between the shallow waters of Mosquito Pass and the blue depths of Haro Strait. Come ashore to celebrate Earth Day 2021 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., April 22 by enjoying some  Continue Reading

By Karin Roemers-Kleven, Plastic Free Salish Sea Spring is in the air, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting better. We can leave our houses and go for nice walks. So, why not adopt a beach? The idea behind adopting a beach was launched about a year ago with the development of the  Continue Reading

From San Juan County Land Bank Got questions for your conservation land bank? We want to hear from you! Join us on Zoom for San Juan County Land Bank’s Community Conversation series. We will host public meetings from 5:30-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, April 7 and April 14. Register at https://bit.ly/3vGDWys. Each meeting date will  Continue Reading

From Washington State Parks Washington State Parks invites visitors to help celebrate the agency’s 108th birthday on Friday, March 19, by enjoying a state park for free that day. The state parks in the San Juans include Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island, Moran on Orcas Island and Spencer Spit on Lopez Island. March  Continue Reading

From San Juan Preservation Trust March 1 is the official opening day for the newest addition to the Preservation Trust’s trail network on Shaw Island. The two-mile Sylvan Loop Trail meanders through a scenic sampling of the Marilyn and Fred Ellis Preserve’s varied forest landscapes. Donated to the Preservation Trust by Fred and Marilyn Ellises’  Continue Reading

From San Juan Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 19 via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click here to download the agenda, including the ZOOM link and meeting materials. To learn more about your Conservation Land Bank, visit sjclandbank.org. If  Continue Reading

From Islands’ Oil Spill Association Tony Parkin has been hired as the new executive director of the Islands’ Oil Spill Association. Hailing from the UK, Tony used his degree in Geology and Oceanography to launch an international career in marine science, remote-sensing, and over the past 30 years, oil spill response and planning. Tony and  Continue Reading

From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans Why are recycle bins optimistic? Because they’re full of cans! This award season, let’s honor the ‘cans’ of the San Juans! The Oscars have nothing on the Finnies. Know someone who deserves to walk the stewardship red carpet? Nominate them for a Good Steward Award! The categories  Continue Reading

From San Juan County The San Juan County Council adopted the Shoreline Master Program periodic review with Ordinance 08-2020 on Oct. 27, 2020. Ordinance 08-2020 is effective 14 days after the Washington State Department of Ecology approves the proposed amendments. They approved the proposed amendments on Jan. 19, 2021, so the ordinance will be effective  Continue Reading

From Transition San Juan Island Waste Guild The Transition San Juan Island Waste Guild wants to give a big kudos to the San Juan Island School District Food for Thought program’s grab-and-go free school breakfast and lunch program. The food service team packages their tasty breakfasts and lunches in a sustainable manner. When schools went  Continue Reading

By Caitlin Blethen, WSU Master Gardener Program Coordinator  Join the San Juan County Washington State University Master Gardeners for two free community webinars exploring how to successfully grow your own food. Dr. Carol Miles and Dr. Linda Gilkeson will spend two hours each on two separate Tuesdays, reviewing the basics of food gardening. These events  Continue Reading

Shop Local; Reuse Gift Wrappings; Swap Decorations with Friends By Plastic Free Salish Sea What do fish sing during the holidays? Christmas corals! Have you resolved to be more eco-conscious this holiday season? Transition San Juan Island and Plastic Free Salish Sea can help. Check out the ideas below to reduce waste and lighten your  Continue Reading

By Friends of the San Juans This year has been life-changing for all of us to varying degrees. In early March, the message from Friends of the San Juans was one of changing times, as directives unfolded with caution and deliberation. Those same feelings continue to unfold in a variety of ways. Yet today, we  Continue Reading